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The experiences of unpartnered men with prostate cancer: a qualitative analysis

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Journal of Cancer Survivorship Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine how men without partners make decisions about prostate cancer treatment, manage treatment side effects, and obtain information and support.

Background

In 2009, it was projected that over 230,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. While treatment options vary, these options result in changes within the man that can affect his quality of life. Research has shown that often spouses play a central role in men’s choice of treatment and in maintaining men’s quality of life. In addition, spouses are the major providers of emotional support and physical care. However, little is known about how men without partners cope with prostate cancer. Prior research seldom addresses how diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer affects the quality of life of men without partners.

Methods

Because very little is known about the needs of men without partners managing prostate cancer, qualitative analysis of data obtained during semi-structure interviews provided respondents with an opportunity to share the lived experience of prostate cancer. A semi-structured interview was conducted with selected, consenting men. The sample was drawn from the ongoing R01 study of men with prostate cancer (PROSTQA).

Results

The sample for this study included 17 unpartnered prostate cancer survivors. The ages of participants ranged from 47 to 72 with a mean age of 63. The participants had between zero and two co-morbidities with an average of one co-morbidity per participant. The sample was 82% Caucasian and 17% Black. A total of 35% of the participants reported “some college” (n = 6), 30% graduated from college (n = 5), and 23% went to graduate school (n = 4). One participant reported that he was a high school graduate and one had less than a high school education. Five themes emerged from the data: going it alone, diagnosis and prostate cancer treatment decision-making, sources of information and support, the aftermath of prostate cancer, and coping strategies.

Conclusions

This study provides information about unpartnered men’s prostate cancer experience. This information will help health care professionals to meet the needs of unpartnered more effectively and help them to assist men as they adapt to living with this chronic illness.

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PROSTQA Consortium study group

The PROSTQA Consortium includes contributions in cohort design, patient accrual and follow-up from the following faculty: John T. Wei, Rodney L Dunn, and David Wood (University of Michigan); Eric A Klein and Jay Ciezki (Cleveland Clinic); Jeff Michalski and Adam Kibel (Washington University, St. Louis, WA); Mark Litwin and Chris Saigal (University of California—Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA); Louis Pisters and Deborah Kuban (MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX); James Hu (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA) Douglas Dahl and Anthony Zeitman (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA), Irving Kaplan (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA and), Howard M. Sandler (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA) and Larry Hembroff (Michigan State University, East Lansging, MI)

Funding

NIH R01 CA95662

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fairfield University School of Nursing, Fairfield, CT, USA

    Meredith Wallace Kazer

  2. Wayne State University School of Nursing, Detroit, MI, USA

    Janet Harden

  3. Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA

    Matthew Burke

  4. Division of Urology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Martin G. Sanda

  5. Survey Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Jill Hardy

  6. Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, USA

    Donald E. Bailey

Authors
  1. Meredith Wallace Kazer
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  2. Janet Harden
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  3. Matthew Burke
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  4. Martin G. Sanda
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  5. Jill Hardy
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  6. Donald E. Bailey
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PROSTQA Study Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meredith Wallace Kazer.

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Kazer, M.W., Harden, J., Burke, M. et al. The experiences of unpartnered men with prostate cancer: a qualitative analysis. J Cancer Surviv 5, 132–141 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0157-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0157-3

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